128 Queries by the Geologists of the Survey of New York. 
6. Is the wood in its natural state, or is it more like charcoal in its 
appearance ? 
, Subterranean Forests. 
1. In digging wells, or other excavations, or by the caving down 
of banks and cliffs of earth, have any traces of trees, wood, bark, 
leaves, nuts or seeds been discovered buried deep in the earth, or at 
a greater depth than we would expect to find them from the effect 
of present causes ? 
2. Were these remains in their natural state, or were they © con- 
verted to stone, or to a black substance like charcoal ? 
3. If the latter, has the substance been used as fuel? 
4. At what depth does it lie? and in what earth? (sand or clay ?) 
5, What strata were observed above and below? 
6. Do the trees stand erect ? 
7. Do they lie all in one direction ? 
8. Do you suppose drifting sands, washing by water, or other 
causes have buried them? 
9. What is the situation of this lignite with regard to the sea, or 
to water courses, and its relative height or depth above or below 
them? 
10. Have shells or bones been found in the layer containing the 
lignite, or in the adjacent strata ? 
11. What is the color of the adjacent clay, sand or gravel ? 
12. Have masses of a heavy yellow metallic stone (pyrites) been 
found in the adjacent clay ? and has it been applied to use? 
Peat Bogs and Shell Marl. 
1. Are there inland meadows or swamps in your vicinity that 
tremble when one walks over them? 
2. Are they covered by moss, and cranberry vines ? 
3. To what depth can a pole be thrust down? 
4. How many are there, and of what extent in your vicinity ? 
5. Does the peat, or black tremulous mud, rest on sand, gravel, 
rock, or a white clayey marl containing small shells? 
6. Has the peat been used for fuel, or for burning lime or bricks? 
7. Has the peat, or shell marl, been used as a manure! 
Bog Iron Ore. 
1. Are there ponds or marshes in the vicinity, in the bottom of 
which is a soft spongy, yellowish brown stone, or gravel? 
